summer 2016 vol 17 • no 3 Comfort the Afflicted ROUNDTABLE PARISH PROFILE LAST WORD Anti-Violence St. Clement Parish Peace Corner 4 6 18 SPIRIT magazine contents summer 2016 SUMMER 2016 VOL 17, NO 3 interim editor Kristine Kappel writers Communications Department Development Department Program Service Areas photos Catholic Charities Communications and Program Archives creative director Jennifer Sirota art design Kathleen Gabriel editorial board Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland president Kathy Donahue senior vice president, program development & evaluation John Ryan Comfort the Afflicted chief of staff Judith Silekis director of development Kristine Kappel director of communications monsignor boland roundtable 2 Walking with the 4 Comforting the Afflicted Less Fortunate in the Wake of Violence parish profile 6 St. Clement Parish spirit magazine © Catholic Charities 2016 program news Catholic Charities 9 of the Archdiocese of Chicago 721 North LaSalle Street events Chicago, Illinois 60654 14 Spirit Magazine is published by Catholic Charities of the the last word Archdiocese of Chicago Turning the Corner for its friends, clients 18 on Violence and benefactors. Spirit Magazine Editors and Staff Phone (312) 655-7010 [email protected] Postage paid in Chicago, IL 60654 Postmaster: Send change of address to: Spirit Magazine 721 N. LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60654 2016 JUBILEE www.catholiccharities.net/spirit OF MERCY 2 SPIRIT summer 2016 monsignor boland Walking with the less fortunate Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland president of catholic charities In celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, each issue of Spirit magazine is focusing on a different work of mercy. With a violent and heartbreaking story making news almost every day in our great city, we felt “Comfort the Afflicted” would be an appropriate and most welcome theme for our summer issue. Catholic Charities is continually comforting the afflicted in some of the most violent and poverty-stricken neighborhoods throughout the Archdiocese, spreading God’s mercy and bringing hope to troubled communities. Catholic Charities is blessed to comfort and “raise up” those who have been several Catholic Charities programs that provide both types of comfort to the afflicted “struck down” by…difficult – we compassionately walk with those who are suffering, and we provide professional and circumstances. practical support to help them rebuild their lives. especially in distressed neighborhoods, catholic Often “Comfort the Afflicted” is referred to Charities presence is a beacon of hope, reminding as “Comfort the Sorrowful,” and we think of community residents that they have not been helping someone endure the storm of loss and abandoned or forgotten. We know that breaking grief. It is difficult to find exactly the right thing to the cycle of violence in turbulent areas often say to grieving friends, but sometimes the best means breaking the cycle of poverty, and so we use comfort comes from just being there, of letting our professional expertise to address the many our friends know that they are not alone. We challenges of poverty head-on, improving and bring the sympathy of Jesus simply by being a stabilizing communities…one person, one family compassionate presence and walking with those at a time. who are suffering. Catholic Charities is blessed to comfort and “Comfort the Afflicted” can also take on a more “raise up” those who have been “struck down” by rigorous connotation. In its Latin roots, “afflicted” violence, poverty, addiction, grief, or other difficult means to be struck down, weakened, or injured. circumstances. It is inspiring to see Catholic to comfort a person that has been weakened Charities staff bolstered by thousands of dedicated in the more literal sense means to restore him volunteers, donors, and board members who to strength, and build courage and skills so he are strongly committed to changing lives for the can face life with renewed energy and vigor. this better. together, we are bringing hope to troubled type of comforting often takes special skills, and communities and giving our brothers and sisters perhaps even professional expertise. the strength, skills, and opportunity to lead lives On the following pages you will learn about that are reflective of their essential human dignity. SPIRIT summer 2016 3 Comforting the Afflicted in the Wake of Violence All day, every day, Catholic Charities works to help REV. MONSIGNOR end cycles of poverty and violence through our MICHAEL BOLAND 150 programs at 160 locations throughout Cook President and Lake counties. These locations act as “field Catholic Charities of the hospitals,” places where people’s needs are met with Archdiocese of Chicago immediacy. Our staff works diligently in our most vulnerable and most violent communities to shine the light of faith-based works of mercy. This issue’s roundtable features the reflections of our president JANICE WILLIAMS Monsignor Michael Boland and two of our staff Site Director members working on the frontlines of anti-poverty Child, Youth, and Family and anti-violence initiatives. Services, Catholic Charities What does comfort the afflicted mean to you and how can we provide that comfort to those around us? MONSIGNOR Comforting the afflicted is the loving attitude and ANGEL GUTIERREZ actions that transform despair and trauma through the Vice-President compassionate embrace of a community of support. We Community Development, can provide comfort in ways both simple and complex. and Outreach Services, from a hot meal to a warm greeting, we are able to Catholic Charities extend love to those who we can see are struggling as well as those who we pass in our everyday lives without knowing their stories. JANICE to me, it means responding sensitively and with compassion to the suffering of individuals, to aid or assist someone who is under a very heavy burden, and also to relieve the pressures of another’s life circumstances. ANGEL It means meeting people where they are in their life journey. People’s lives are filled with complicated histories. every person has gifts to contribute but 4 SPIRIT summer 2016 roundtable the peace corner Youth center provides a safe haven from gang violence and drug activity perhaps they have yet to realize these gifts. It means food and employment deserts, and opportunity, hope accompanying people along their respective journeys. and dream deserts as well. this takes on many forms, from providing services to helping navigate systems and emotions like grief, to What more can we do as a community to bring comfort advocating for new or potential changes in their journey to the sorrowful and those suffering in pain? toward self-sufficiency. MONSIGNOR How do you see Catholic Charities comforting the there is always more we can do to comfort those who afflicted in our communities? are suffering. We have more than 400 community partners that we can continue to reach out to and branch MONSIGNOR out to those in the most afflicted, violent communities Our behavioral health services are designed to so that they, too, can partner with us to provide provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for youth, comprehensive wrap around services. We can also, as adults and families through counseling for those who always, rely on prayer to help us seek help, comfort and have experienced or witnessed violence, as well as a support for those who we serve and also those who are multitude of other traumas, such as grief, substance faithfully serving. abuse, and mental illness. I am always inspired, JANICE humbled and grateful for the work I see done by our I believe we can bring more comfort to the community staff as well as the comfort provided through the through outreach in more violent communities by compassion of our board members, parish partners, providing more opportunities and activities for teens donors and volunteers. ages 13-18. i think this would deter teens from making JANICE gangs their first choice. We can empower them with We comfort through the holistic approach of supplying sound resources and counseling. housing and counseling, and being an advocate and safe ANGEL haven through mental health, education, and health care. It is important for the community not to just speak, ANGEL but through action, show that we truly care about the We respond and engage in public-private partnership suffering and pain that people are in, and demonstrate to help train and employ youth and adults from this by trying to bring our services to the communities communities that are not only crime havens but also that have the most need. SPIRIT summer 2016 5 St. Clement Parish CHICAGO Parish Profile Rooted in the richness of Catholic tradition, Saint Clement is a welcoming, respectful, and vibrant parish community, on a common journey toward holiness. Uncovering Talents and Empowered by the liturgy, “We are thankful for Serving Those in Need we worship together and our strong partnership deepen our faith in Jesus nestled in the quiet chicago Christ through Sacraments, neighborhood of Lincoln Park is St. with St. Clement and Clement, a passionate parish that prayer, service, spiritual strives for deeper holiness, greater its commitment to formation and education. communion, and wider service. home to 4,500 households, St. Clement sharing their collective Grateful to God for our reaches beyond their city blocks to gifts of mercy to help many blessings, we have a achieve that vision of service to God and sacred responsibility to share community with a shared commitment our clients.” our gifts, serve the common to belong, pray, serve, give, and learn. Monsignor Boland good, make a meaningful from longstanding service programs to ideas parishioners bring to life, difference in people’s lives, St. Clement has a vibrant sense of the church community; our mission and respond to the challenge stewardship where each individual is reach out,” said maggie hanley, to live the Gospel every day.